As a franchise principal, John Haynal supervises a staff of over 170 teachers at three at-risk elementary schools. He supports each to excel while remaining accessible to his staff, with an impressive 95% teacher retention rate. His career began as a teacher and coach, and after fourteen years he left education for a successful private sector career with Citicorp, returning as a principal eight years ago. Haynal served as principal of Helen Marie Smith Elementary School when it was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2010 and has been successful in transforming two high need schools as well as mentoring other principals to learn from his success. As described by a colleague, Haynal made the decision long ago to champion the cause for at-risk students and has had a profound impact on students and families for the last three decades. He was nominated to participate in the intensive Nevada Executive Leadership Academy in 2013 and was named the inaugural recipient of the “Best in Class” for School Leadership Award at the 2016 Heart of Education Awards Ceremony. Haynal has been a Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society member since 1996, holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and Physical Education from California University of Pennsylvania, and a M.Ed. in Education Administration from the University of Nevada. He is currently pursuing additional graduate study as part of the Harvard University School Turnaround Leaders program.